ATLANTA – State Representative Valencia Stovall (D-Forest Park) recently celebrated Georgia Pre-K Week by reading to 320 students at nine early learning centers in the cities of Morrow, Forest Park, College Park and Riverdale.
“Georgia Pre-K Week promotes the importance of literacy at an early age, which is especially crucial as a recent Deloitte study found that 65 percent of third graders are not reading on grade level,” said Rep. Stovall. “The early learning centers open their doors to elected officials like myself to engage with energetic groups of students, and I am delighted to participate each year. All the partnering agencies are to be commended for their diligent work.”
This year, Rep. Stovall challenged her friends to join her during Georgia Pre-K Week, and they accepted the challenge by taking turns reading to children. Rep. Stovall visited Arrow Christian Academy, Clayton County Child Development Center, Fayetteville KinderCare, Fountain Elementary School, King Elementary School, Little Ones Learning Center, Morrow Elementary School, Prime Care Learning Center in Riverdale and Watch Me Grow Learning Center. Cali the Puppy, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) mascot, made a guest appearance at the Fountain Elementary School Pre-K program.
Georgia Pre-K Week, October 2-6, was launched seven years ago and is organized each year by Voices for Georgia’s Children. Voices for Georgia’s Children, a policy and advocacy non-profit organization, is supported by more than 15 child-focused partner organizations. Support from government, business and community leaders has been the key to Georgia’s success in leading the nation in early learning policies and practices.
Georgia Pre-K Week is celebrated with the full support of DECAL and generous corporate participation and sponsorship from Georgia Power and Synovus. Other partners include Black Child Development Institute-Atlanta, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, Georgia Child Care Association, Georgia Family Connection Partnership, Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, Georgia Public Library Service, Georgia School Boards Association, Georgia Vision Project, multiple Junior Leagues throughout Georgia, Metro Atlanta YMCA, Quality Care for Children and United Way of Greater Atlanta.
Voices for Georgia’s Children is a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization that envisions a Georgia where children are safe, healthy, educated, employable and connected to their family and community.
For more information on Voices for Georgia’s Children, please click here.
*Editor’s Note: Photos of Rep. Stovall celebrating Georgia Pre-K Week have been attached to this press release for your convenience.
Representative Valencia Stovall represents the citizens of District 74, which includes portions of Clayton County. She was elected into the House of Representatives in 2012, and currently serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Education, Interstate Cooperation, and Small Business Development committees.
###